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Duffield was born in London, left school at the age of 16,[4] and worked as a teaching assistant[5] before becoming a full-time writer.[6] She is a single mother of two children and had lived in Canterbury for 19 years before standing for election as the city's MP.[7] She was previously Chair of the Canterbury Labour Party and has been an active campaigner for a range of issues, including animal rights and environmental protection.[8].

Following her attendance at an antisemitism rally in March 2018, a letter was circulated accusing Duffield of being involved with "groups and organisations that are campaigning to damage" the Labour Party. A motion to censure her for this was withdrawn in an overwhelming vote at the Constituency Labour Party.[14]

In August 2018, Duffield attracted national media attention after branding a Japanese-themed cocktail bar named 'Tokyo Tea Rooms' in her constituency "culturally insensitive".[15] In a post on her official Facebook page, Duffield said the bar had "crossed the line from cultural appreciation to cultural appropriation" on its opening night.[16][17]